Health Tip: Drink more water every day

Date: 2009.11.16 | Category: HealthTips | Tags: bottled water,dehydration,drink,healing,health

There are a variety of reasons to drink plenty of water each day. Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes. Substituting water for beverages high in calories can also help control weight. Follow the steps below to make sure you’re getting enough of this most basic necessity.
Here is how to help you get started.

1. Determine how much water you need. You’ve probably heard the “drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day” rule. But the amount of water a person needs varies depending on his or her weight, activity level and climate. Another way to determine your specific recommended water intake is to divide your weight (in pounds) by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need each day. Please note that these are only recommended intake numbers.

2. Measure your daily intake of water. Do this for a few days. This will help you keep track of whether you’re drinking less than the recommended quantity.

3. Carry water with you everywhere. You can put it in a bottle or other container. Keep a glass or cup of water next to you whenever you’ll be sitting down for a long time, such as when you’re at your desk at work. Drink from it regularly as you’re working.

4.Try wearing a digital watch that beeps at the beginning of each hour. Use that as a reminder to pour yourself a glass of water. Vow to drink that water before the next beep.

5. Get a water purification system. Purified water tastes very good and may help make drinking water more appealing to you. Be aware, though, that as you grow accustomed to purified water, you may find that tap water leaves a bad taste in your mouth, even though it may be better for your teeth.

6. Add lemons or limes to your water. This makes it taste better and makes you want to drink more of it. Be careful not to make it too sour; just a splash of sourness should do the trick. Some mint leaves can be added to a pitcher of water which should be allowed to sit overnight. These are cheap alternatives to the bottled flavored water.

7. Eat water rich foods, such as fruits like watermelon, which is 92% water by weight.

8. Keep water cold if it tastes better for you. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator at home. Add ice or freeze water in a sports bottle before taking it with you, it will eventually melt and stay cold.
(Bear in mind that cold water takes energy for your body to regulate the temperature, and does burn some calories.) Room temperature water is better if you’re dehydrated. Your body can absorb the room temperature water immediately, instead of the body having to raise the temperature of the water first in order to process it.

Climate can drastically change how much water you need. On hot days that require you to be outside, you should drink more water to counteract the fluids you lose when you sweat. This not only keeps your body hydrated, it can prevent heat-related illness.

Consuming enough fluids in cold or wet weather is often overlooked but just as important. The human body works much more efficiently when properly hydrated. Inadequate water intake affects the brain’s function first, which can become very dangerous, especially in extreme conditions.

Warnings: While adequate water is essential to health, it is possible to drink too much water or any other beverage, and there has been considerable scientific debate surrounding how much water a person really needs per day. It is possible to “overdose” on water. Water intoxication occurs when the electrolytes in the body are so diluted that they have trouble keeping the balance of water even inside and outside of individual cells. If you plan on doing heavy prolonged exercise, be sure to alternate sports drinks with regular water to keep your electrolytes in balance.